Stag Line
Preserved but no longer current.
At American dances, a number of extra men guests who stand at the edge of the dance-floor, without partners, but having the privilege of breaking m on any dancing couple and claiming the girl as a partner.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Stag Line” mean?
At American dances, a number of extra men guests who stand at the edge of the dance-floor, without partners, but having the privilege of breaking m on any dancing couple and claiming the girl as a partner.
Is “Stag Line” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.